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iNaturalist workshop and bio-blitz planned; commission considers updating NRI
Summary
An iNaturalist workshop (May 22) and a June 28 Bio-Blitz were announced; commissioners discussed using iNaturalist to update the town's natural resources inventory (NRI) but raised concerns about geo-tagging rare species and potential poaching.
Barb Bloomberg announced an iNaturalist workshop at Cook Memorial Library on May 22 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., with the Cook Memorial Library listed as a co-sponsor and Tara from Green Mountain coordinating a flyer. The commission also highlighted a planned Bio-Blitz field workshop on June 28 to collect species data using the app.
Members discussed whether iNaturalist could be used during easement monitoring and noted a risk: Joan raised concern that geo-tagging rare species could reveal sensitive locations and potentially lead to poaching on private easements. The commission referenced the RSA guidance for conservation commissions about natural resources inventories; the current local NRI dates to the 1980 master plan, and members said iNaturalist could help modernize the inventory while balancing privacy for sensitive species.
